Who's paying top money for Commando's

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Madnorton

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Whilst looking for another Commando I have noticed that the prices on dealers websites are going through the the roof, with £14,000 seeming to be the normal asking price for just a average machine with little or no provenance or even matching numbers. Even Ebad is going daft with an alleged MK3 selling for just shy of £8,000, nothing in the description was given to indicate whether it was original or had matching numbers, but it looked like a mix of parts and upgrades, ie controls, K&N's, front brake, rear brake, seat etc. There is even a dealer advertising a 1973 MK3 electric start!!
With these sort of selling prices, it looks like it would be cheaper to build one from new parts, get it inspected and issued with a new reg. With some nice parts I could still build one for less than £14K.
There are also rumours that there are investment brokers buying collectable bikes and I have seen one advertised as an investment opportunity, the question is - has anyone here paid these large sums of money for a Commando and are they going to ride it or stick in their lounge / hallway / hotel reception as an ornament?
 
Nope, bought mine cheap years ago (was a bit of a shed) and rebuilt it into the bike I wanted it to be. Mate then wanted one and he bought a much better more complete bike needing only a little work but still not big money.
I thought prices had peaked and started going down in the UK market. Remember, people ask high prices, but do they actually sell at those high prices?
Some will want a seemingly perfect complete bike and may be prepared to pay a premium for the convenience but personally I would always prefer to buy a nail and build it to my own spec/standards then I know what I have.
Just my 2p. HTH
Cheers, MArtin
 
No doubt about it, SOME people will pay "silly" money for unremarkable classic Brit (and Japanese, and other) bikes.

It is all down to having an antsy buyer at just the right time, or preferably TWO of them!
 
I think its best to buy a bike that going well and looks reasonable. It will probably cost 10 times as much to buy all the parts new and build a machine. We joked about that in the motor trade years ago. If you get a bucket of bolts really cheap, then that's probably ok if you have the skills to rebuild the machine. If you have to pay someone to do it, the sky's the limit.

I decided I wanted another bike so my wife gave me the ok. She was a bit pissed when I bought the 850 from Nes for $8,000 nz back in '06. She thought I meant a modern, comfortable tourer. Yeh right.
I have since completely rebuilt the g/box and engine, but it was only the parts cost and I just bought what I needed. I bought one of those ge NIGHTHAWK/TRUCKLITE LED head lamp for it. Best thing I ever did. Don't need to upgrade the charging system either as a result. I now don't believe in having an inventory of spares. maybe a cable or 2.

Dereck
 
In Australia the prices for Nortons have gone through the roof for many years now and there is no sign they will be going down, average price now is over $12,000 for just a average bike and some prices over the $16,000 for ones that have been done up, I have also seen prices even higher than that but whether they get them prices is another thing, we are also seeing a lot of imported Commandos coming over here, mostly from the USA as they seem to be a lot more cheaper than what we can get them for here, I would never pay that much for one, but they are getting harder to fine and if someone wants one bad enough then they will be perpared to pay the high prices that are being asked for.
If you were to build one from new part I think it would cost a lot more money than what they are asking for complete bikes, a few years ago instead of buying another old Norton Commando, I put my money to a brand new Triumph Thruxton, I brought my Norton new and now have a new Thruxton (well going on 3 years old now) with trouble free riding, I love both bikes, but if I get the chance to buy a cheap Norton in a box to build up as a project, then who knows.

Ashley
 
I see new triumphs are advertised on Trademe for about $15,000. ??????? I wonder where they are made.
Dereck
 
I can personally vouch for the high cost of building Nortons from parts.

Even CHEAP parts!

(good thing I do not have a mortgage or vehicle payments)
 
Maybe me. Paid 10K Cdn. for my new "done up " MK 111. Felt I paid a reasonable amount. No bargain but fair ,not overpriced. :)
 
kerinorton said:
I see new triumphs are advertised on Trademe for about $15,000. ??????? I wonder where they are made.
Dereck
Click to expand...


Most bike manufactures sorce their parts world wide, Triumph is no diffrent, they have a factory in the UK and Tireland where they are assembled, doen't mean the parts are made there, to make a business profitable they need to cut cost and look how sucssfull Triumph have been for how long now and they seem to be getting even bigger.
Look at Harlies, just because they are made in the US of A don't mean all their parts are, they are sorced all over the world the same as Triumph, but look how much it cost to buy a new Harley these days.

Ashley
 
ashman said:
Look at Harlies, just because they are made in the US of A don't mean all their parts are, they are sorced all over the world the same as Triumph, but look how much it cost to buy a new Harley these days.
Click to expand...

Trying to relate ANYTHING having to do with Harlies must take into consideration that the ONLY justification for the price tags on them is the amazing "je ne se quois" (with respect to the French at this sad time) that they seem to be able to demand for the privilege of ownership of almost completely sub-standard performance in almost every respect of a 2-wheeled motorized vehicle.

In other words, the cost of a Harly has NOTHING to do with the price or origin of the components used to build it, and very little to do with the cost of assembly labor or marketing that is already paid for by suckers who buy HD-branded doggie sweaters and banana peelers.
 
grandpaul said:
ashman said:
Look at Harlies, just because they are made in the US of A don't mean all their parts are, they are sorced all over the world the same as Triumph, but look how much it cost to buy a new Harley these days.
Click to expand...

Trying to relate ANYTHING having to do with Harlies must take into consideration that the ONLY justification for the price tags on them is the amazing "je ne se quois" (with respect to the French at this sad time) that they seem to be able to demand for the privilege of ownership of almost completely sub-standard performance in almost every respect of a 2-wheeled motorized vehicle.

In other words, the cost of a Harly has NOTHING to do with the price or origin of the components used to build it, and very little to do with the cost of assembly labor or marketing that is already paid for by suckers who buy HD-branded doggie sweaters and banana peelers.
Click to expand...


Fully agree, over here they are paying over $35,000 for most models and sportiters are now over $19,000, but so many are hooked on them and they all become one sided, but the best part is i run circles around them when in the twisties whether on the Norton or Triumph and don't they just hate it.

Ashley
 
Fellow I ride with some ... has 2011 Ducati Multi and a 2015 Road King .... he wishes for a Commando .... go figure eh ?
Craig
 
Paid $3000 US for this 1972 Combat in 2003. Matching numbers. All original. I actually lost out on it on E-Bay but the seller e-mailed me a week later and said the winner didn't come through. I really believe he had someone bid it up towards the end of auction. Had 17K on the odometer. I put over 17K on it since. Drove 500 miles to pick it up. At the time I felt I was nuts paying that much. Reflecting back now, it was worth the price. Had red rag below the carbs as it had a leak when I took the photo. Dog didn't come with the Norton :)
 

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grandpaul said:
ashman said:
In other words, the cost of a Harly has NOTHING to do with the price or origin of the components used to build it, and very little to do with the cost of assembly labor or marketing that is already paid for by suckers who buy HD-branded doggie sweaters and banana peelers.
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An amazing job of driving brand loyalty to places most manufacturer's could never go. You have to respect their marketing prowess.

Triumph is following this model (along with offering better products)...and it seems to be working. :D
 
dennisgb said:
An amazing job of driving brand loyalty to places most manufacturer's could never go. You have to respect their marketing prowess. Triumph is following this model (along with offering better products)...and it seems to be working.
Click to expand...

Triumph is indeed "selling their soul", but their BIKES deliver many times the value for the dollar/euro/yen/peso/whatever. They have also been pretty dang good about product placement of their BIKES in movies and TV. I really don't think we'll see Triumph-branded cheese straighteners in my lifetime (thank God).
 
travelerjerry said:
Paid $3000 US for this 1972 Combat in 2003. Matching numbers. All original. I actually lost out on it on E-Bay but the seller e-mailed me a week later and said the winner didn't come through. I really believe he had someone bid it up towards the end of auction. Had 17K on the odometer. I put over 17K on it since. Drove 500 miles to pick it up. At the time I felt I was nuts paying that much. Reflecting back now, it was worth the price. Had red rag below the carbs as it had a leak when I took the photo. Dog didn't come with the Norton :)
Click to expand...

Here in California 15-18yrs ago I would see Commandos going for about $2800 all day long, wish I bought a few. Instead I was busy buying new BMW's and loosing my ass when I sold them. :(
 
MS850 said:
Instead I was busy buying new BMW's and loosing my ass when I sold them. :(
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You need special 20/20 hindsight glasses to know whats going to be worth lots more in years to come ?
If anyone has any of those, I'll take a dozen pairs please.

Or just pass on some of yer hot tips.
Yeh, I know, Broughs Crockers Broughs Crockers and more Broughs...
 
Rohan said:
MS850 said:
Instead I was busy buying new BMW's and loosing my ass when I sold them. :(
Click to expand...

You need special 20/20 hindsight glasses to know whats going to be worth lots more in years to come ?
If anyone has any of those, I'll take a dozen pairs please.

Or just pass on some of yer hot tips.
Yeh, I know, Broughs Crockers Broughs Crockers and more Broughs...
Click to expand...

I don't think its that tricky to be honest, the real barriers are lack of money, space, patience and interest!

T140 Bonnies, later Ducatis, BMW airheads are just a few that come to mind that are currently at the low end and will definitely rise in future.

So if you've got an empty barn... and a spare $100k... And are happy to wait 30 years... There's no stopping ya!
 
Fast Eddie said:
Rohan said:
MS850 said:
Instead I was busy buying new BMW's and loosing my ass when I sold them. :(
Click to expand...

You need special 20/20 hindsight glasses to know whats going to be worth lots more in years to come ?
If anyone has any of those, I'll take a dozen pairs please.

Or just pass on some of yer hot tips.
Yeh, I know, Broughs Crockers Broughs Crockers and more Broughs...
Click to expand...

I don't think its that tricky to be honest, the real barriers are lack of money, space, patience and interest!

T140 Bonnies, later Ducatis, BMW airheads are just a few that come to mind that are currently at the low end and will definitely rise in future.

So if you've got an empty barn... and a spare $100k... And are happy to wait 30 years... There's no stopping ya!
Click to expand...
30 years may be too long, by that time I reckon that we will have transitioned away from the Gasoline economy and you won't be able (permitted?) to use gasoline fuelled vehicles
 
Just looking at Trademe (our Ebay) we seem a bit lower in NZ.

A nice 73 750 with a 25 year owner is being bid at UK Pounds 5400 or US$ 8200 - but it hasn't sold yet.

Others are asking UK 7600 and US 11,600 for similar machines but not getting offers.

My $1500 74 850 Roadster is looking good. (37 years ownership)
 
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